The Unacknowledged Status of Applied Ornament in Contemporary Architecture
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| Title: | The Unacknowledged Status of Applied Ornament in Contemporary Architecture |
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| Authors: | Gonul, Hale |
| Contributors: | Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politècnica de València Riunet |
| Source: | RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) |
| Publisher Information: | Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, 2025. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Subject Terms: | Architectural ornament, Contemporary architecture, Intrinsic ornament, Contemporary ornamentation, Ornamento intrínseco, Ornamentación contemporánea, Applied ornament, Arquitectura contemporánea, Ornamento arquitectónico, Ornamento aplicado |
| Description: | In the 19th century, Fergusson defined architecture as "the art of ornamental and ornamented construction," a theory that remains relevant today. Historically, ornamentation was central to architectural discourse, from the Renaissance notions to the stark minimalism of Modernism and the symbolic décor of Postmodernism. Today, it continues to be a critical focus in architectural theory while contemporary discourse often treats ornament as an intrinsic architectural feature where ornament and structure are inseparable. This view, that pursues the design principle of Modernism, overlooks the prevalence of applied ornament, which, though less discussed, is equally significant in practice. Within this framework, the paper argues for a binary framework to understand contemporary ornamentation: intrinsic (integral to the building) and applied (added onto the building). Despite the contemporary preference for intrinsic ornament, applied ornament in architectural practice remains widespread, indicating a need for a reassessment of its theoretical framework. Delineating the approaches and attempts to illustrate associated concepts such as patterns and digitalization, the study aims to comprehend applied ornament's role and challenge the perception that integrated ornament is the only legitimate form through examining contemporary projects. This re-evaluation seeks to deepen the understanding of ornamentation's status, encouraging further theoretical exploration of applied ornament. |
| Document Type: | Article |
| File Description: | application/pdf |
| ISSN: | 2341-2747 2341-3050 |
| DOI: | 10.4995/vlc.2025.22698 |
| Access URL: | https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/221990 |
| Rights: | CC BY NC |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi.dedup.....5a3e4aef8d2be53a5262b52e14da38a7 |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstract: | In the 19th century, Fergusson defined architecture as "the art of ornamental and ornamented construction," a theory that remains relevant today. Historically, ornamentation was central to architectural discourse, from the Renaissance notions to the stark minimalism of Modernism and the symbolic décor of Postmodernism. Today, it continues to be a critical focus in architectural theory while contemporary discourse often treats ornament as an intrinsic architectural feature where ornament and structure are inseparable. This view, that pursues the design principle of Modernism, overlooks the prevalence of applied ornament, which, though less discussed, is equally significant in practice. Within this framework, the paper argues for a binary framework to understand contemporary ornamentation: intrinsic (integral to the building) and applied (added onto the building). Despite the contemporary preference for intrinsic ornament, applied ornament in architectural practice remains widespread, indicating a need for a reassessment of its theoretical framework. Delineating the approaches and attempts to illustrate associated concepts such as patterns and digitalization, the study aims to comprehend applied ornament's role and challenge the perception that integrated ornament is the only legitimate form through examining contemporary projects. This re-evaluation seeks to deepen the understanding of ornamentation's status, encouraging further theoretical exploration of applied ornament. |
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| ISSN: | 23412747 23413050 |
| DOI: | 10.4995/vlc.2025.22698 |